Apparatus and method for repairing out-of-round tubular cores, and tubular core and coiled strapping assemblies

Abstract

Apparatus for repairing out-of-round cores, upon which strapping material has been coiled, when the core and coiled strapping material assembly has been deformed and is therefore no longer capable of being mounted upon strapping unwinding and dispensing apparatus. The repair apparatus comprises a pair of diametrically opposed, substantially semi-circular shoes which are mounted upon a pair of diametrically aligned rod members that are operatively connected together by means of a diametrically oriented expansion member. The apparatus is adapted to be disposed internally within the deformed core and coiled strapping material assembly, and when the expansion member is diametrically extended, the pair of semi-circular shoes will be forced into contact with the inner periphery of the deformed core and coiled strapping material assembly thereby returning the same to a truly round configuration.

1. Apparatus for repairing an out-of-round tubular member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration, comprising:
 a first arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within a deformed, out-of-round tubular member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration so as to be disposed in contact with a first internal peripheral surface portion of the deformed, out-of-round tubular member; 
 a second arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within the deformed, out-of-round tubular member so as to be disposed in contact with a second internal peripheral surface portion of the deformed, out-of-round tubular member which is disposed substantially diametrically opposite the first internal peripheral surface portion of the deformed, out-of-round tubular member; and 
 an extensible/contractible device interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together for alternatively moving said first and second arcuately configured members toward each other to relatively CONTRACTED positions so as to permit said first and second arcuately configured members to be disposed internally within the deformed, out-of-round tubular member, and for moving said first and second arcuately configured members away from each other to relatively EXTENDED positions so as to cause said first and second arcuately configured members to forcefully engage the first and second inner peripheral portions of the deform-ed, out-of-round tubular member in order to return the de-formed, out-of-round tubular member to a tubular member having a substantially true circular, closed loop round configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of said first and second arcuately configured members comprises an arcuately configured plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each one of said first and second arcuately configured plates has a predetermined arcuate extent. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said predetermined arcuate extent of each one of said first and second arcuately configured plates has an arcuate extent of approximately 120°. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first externally threaded rod member fixedly connected to said first arcuately configured member; 
 a second externally threaded rod member fixedly connected to said second arcuately configured member; and 
 said extensible/contractible means interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together comprises an internally threaded nut member threadedly engaged upon end portions of said first and second externally threaded rod members. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said first externally threaded rod member has a right-hand thread formed thereon; 
 said second externally threaded rod member has a left-hand thread formed thereon; and 
 said nut member has right-hand and left-hand threads formed upon oppositely disposed internal end portions thereof for respectively threadedly mating with said right-hand and left-hand threaded portions of said first and second externally threaded rod members such that said first and second externally threaded rod members, and said nut member, together form a turnbuckle assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first rod member fixedly connected to said first arcuately configured member; 
 a second rod member fixedly connected to said second arcuately configured member; and 
 said extensible/contractible means interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together comprises a fluid actuator for moving one of said first and second rod members, and one of said first and second arcuately configured members fixedly connected thereto, relative to the other one of said first and second rod members and the other one of said first and second arcuately configured members fixedly connected thereto. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said fluid actuator comprises a pneumatic fluid actuator. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said fluid actuator comprises a hydraulic fluid actuator. 
 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for repairing an out-of-round assembly comprising a tubular core member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration and material coiled thereon, comprising:
 a first arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within a deformed, out-of-round tubular core member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration so as to be disposed in contact with a first internal peripheral surface portion of the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member; 
 a second arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member so as to be disposed in contact with a second internal peripheral surface portion of the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member which is disposed substantially diametrically opposite the first internal peripheral surface; and 
 an extensible/contractible device interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together for alternatively moving said first and second arcuately configured members toward each other to relatively CONTRACTED positions so as to permit said first and second arcuately configured members to be disposed internally within the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member, and for moving said first and second arcuately configured members away from each other to relatively EXTENDED positions so as to cause said first and second arcuately configured members to forcefully engage the first and second inner peripheral portions of the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member in order to return the deformed, out-of-round tubular core member, and the material coiled thereon, to a tubular member having a substantially true circular, closed loop round configuration. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 each one of said first and second arcuately configured members comprises an arcuately configured plate. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 each one of said first and second arcuately configured plates has a predetermined arcuate extent. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said predetermined arcuate extent of each one of said first and second arcuately configured plates has an arcuate extent of approximately 120°. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first externally threaded rod member fixedly connected to said first arcuately configured member; 
 a second externally threaded rod member fixedly connected to said second arcuately configured member; and 
 said extensible/contractible means interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together comprises an internally threaded nut member threadedly engaged upon end portions of said first and second externally threaded rod members. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said first externally threaded rod member has a right-hand thread formed thereon; 
 said second externally threaded rod member has a left-hand thread formed thereon; and 
 said nut member has right-hand and left-hand threads formed upon oppositely disposed internal end portions thereof for respectively threadedly mating with said right-hand and left-hand threaded portions of said first and second externally threaded rod members such that said first and second externally threaded rod members, and said nut member, together form a turnbuckle assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first rod member fixedly connected to said first arcuately configured member; 
 a second rod member fixedly connected to said second arcuately configured member; and 
 said extensible/contractible means interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together comprises a fluid actuator for moving one of said first and second rod members, and one of said first and second arcuately configured members fixedly connected thereto, relative to the other one of said first and second rod members and the other one of said first and second arcuately configured members fixedly connected thereto. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said fluid actuator comprises a pneumatic fluid actuator. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said fluid actuator comprises a hydraulic fluid actuator. 
 
     
     
       19. In combination, a deformed out-of-round tubular member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration, and apparatus for repairing the deformed out-of-round tubular member having the substantially circular closed loop configuration, comprising:
 a deformed out-of-round tubular member having a substantially circular closed loop configuration; 
 a first arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within said deformed, out-of-round tubular member so as to be disposed in contact with a first internal peripheral surface portion of said deformed, out-of-round tubular member; 
 a second arcuately configured member, having a predetermined radiused curvature, adapted to be disposed internally within said deformed, out-of-round tubular member so as to be disposed in contact with a second internal peripheral surface portion of said deformed, out-of-round tubular member which is disposed substantially diametrically opposite the first internal peripheral surface portion of said deformed, out-of-round tubular member; and 
 an extensible/contractible device interconnecting said first and second arcuately configured members together for alternatively moving said first and second arcuately configured members toward each other to relatively CONTRACTED positions so as to permit said first and second arcuately configured members to be disposed internally within said deformed, out-of-round tubular member, and for moving said first and second arcuately configured members away from each other to relatively EXTENDED positions so as to cause said first and second arcuately configured members to forcefully engage said first and second inner peripheral portions of said deformed, out-of-round tubular member in order to return said deformed, out-of-round tubular member to a tubular member having a substantially true circular, closed loop round configuration. 
 
     
     
       20. The combination as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 material coiled upon said deformed out-of-round tubular member.